My Glens Falls: Bethanie Muska Lawrence

This week we’re chatting with Bethanie Muska Lawrence, who you might recognize as the Director of the World Awareness Children's Museum! After living all over the United States, she shares what brought her to our little city, a bit more about her career journey, and some of the local spots that have come to top her list of favorites over the past couple of years.

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Bethanie Muska Lawrence, and I'm the Executive Director of the World Awareness Children's Museum. I live in Hudson Falls with my husband, Patrick, and we've lived here since February 2018, when we relocated from Nashville, Tennessee. 

I grew up in Northern New Jersey and went to college at the University of South Carolina, where I got my degree in Music Education. I've lived all over the place and have taught in Newburgh, New York, Phoenix, Arizona, Franklin, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, and Ramsey, New Jersey. I had never expected to work in a museum, but I got the opportunity to apply for a museum educator job at the World Awareness Children's Museum after my husband and I moved up here, and it changed my career path forever. I went from Museum Educator to Education Coordinator to Deputy Director to Executive Director all in the span of two years. I love my job, I love getting to make a difference in children's lives, and I love that we're able to teach children to be curious about different cultures and people groups. This is sincerely the best job I've ever had.

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

We chose the Glens Falls area because of my husband's job. I grew up in Northern New Jersey and he grew up outside of Hershey, Pennsylvania, and we were happy to be moving back north after living in Tennessee for a year. I love being in the northeast because we're close to both of our families, and living in or near the mountains has always been something I've wanted. Something I think about often is that I grew up going to and working at a summer camp in Corinth, and never expected to actually get to live in an area where I have so many fond memories from childhood. It's been wonderful to be able to make the Adirondacks our home.

We rent an apartment in Hudson Falls, and it's perfect for us. We love that people are genuinely kind, and our neighbors are friendly. I am on the Board of Trustees for the Hudson Falls Free Library, and I enjoy being active in the community.

I love that Glens Falls has so many arts organizations! I have always found solace in the arts - I was a music major in college and studied opera and choral music, and went on to be a music teacher for five or six years before moving to New York. The fact that there are so many ways to experience art - whether at LARAC, North Country Arts, the Hyde, the Chapman, and more - makes this my favorite of all the places I've lived. There is also a robust music scene, including the Glens Falls Symphony and local choral groups. I sing with the Hudson River Chorale and the SUNY Adirondack Community Choir (when there isn't a pandemic), both run by Miriam Enman, and being part of those groups feeds my soul more than anything else.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

I love grabbing coffee and breakfast at Rachel's Cafe & Spice Company. Rachel and her team are extraordinarily friendly and have the best food and coffee. My husband and I like to take walks around town and window shop because there's always something great to be found. We like to visit Finders Keepers and see what's new in the consignment shop, maybe grab a drink and a pastry at SPOT Coffee, and enjoy the weather. For date nights, we like to visit Craft on 9 for dinner and drinks, and then go home to watch a movie.

This is kind of silly, but honestly, my favorite place in Glens Falls is my office at the World Awareness Children's Museum. I have a wall of windows next to my desk, and I can look out right down to the circle in downtown Glens Falls. I love being able to people-watch and enjoy the sunshine while I'm working. Even though work can be challenging sometimes, I feel very at peace at the museum. We have a great team culture here, and I get along so well with all of the staff. I love what we do at the museum - teaching children and families about our diverse and exciting world - and spending my weekday here is wonderful.

On the Past

One of my favorite memories in Glens Falls is from when we first moved here. It was maybe my second time at the summer Farmers Market, and I was still fairly new to the area. I didn't know many people yet, but I saw so many familiar faces that morning at the Farmer's Market, and all of them stopped to chat with me. It made me feel incredibly welcome. 

On the Future

I would bring a Trader Joe's to the area. That's definitely something I miss from other places I've lived!

King of the Donuts

By 8:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings in a charming village 30 miles south of Glens Falls, no matter the weather, the line is already halfway down the block. One patron is so determined to be first in line that he’s often waiting before dawn. Some customers are so besotted that they haven’t missed a Sunday since 2002.

The King Donut Cart

What inspires this devotion? A mobile bakery the locals call the King Donut cart.

The cart part is right—it’s an antique bread delivery wagon bought from Friehofer’s, so old it still has the shafts for when horses pulled it through the streets of Troy. And while the donuts are sublime, the cart offers a lot more than Bismarcks filled with homemade jam, although that remains a customer favorite. There’s a full menu of just-baked date-filled cookies, elephant ears, scones, croissants and more, all made by hand, using carefully sourced ingredients chosen not just for quality but from small-scale purveyors, local whenever possible. Blackberries come from a Main Street neighbor; rhubarb from their own gardens, strawberries and blueberries from nearby fields, eggs, all 20 dozen per week, from the outskirts of the village, dairy from Battenkill Valley Creamery, and bacon (for the sinful maple-bacon donut) from a farm 9 miles away.

A favorite Sunday selection: Traditional Glazed and Maple Covered Donuts

It’s a four generation effort. Sally, the multi-talented mother of the current owners, ran a brick and mortar bakery in Cambridge until it closed in 1997, and still works in the kitchen. Her son Skip, a pilot for UPS, bought and restored the cart and, after the last flight for the week, pulls a 15-hour shift from Saturday evening to Sunday lunch. He also tends the beehives, runs the sugaring operation, and oversees all the gardening. Skip’s wife Jana handles the logistics of the complicated household and business, supervising orders and customer service. Their daughter Holly is the baking master. She works from early on Saturday until early Sunday—every Saturday night is an all-nighter for her too—and her 6-year-old daughter Ella, who’s already announced her desire to become a professional baker, helps out too. 

Donut cart fans are as noted for their passion as for their patience (the wait can be 45 minutes or more) and grace (no grumbling when something is sold out). Christine Hoffer, proprietor of the now-closed Rice Mansion Inn, always served the donuts to hotel guests for Sunday breakfast and continues that tradition whenever her sons come home from college. In winter, Christine would bring several dozen donuts to Willard Mountain on Sundays to sell to fellow ski instructors and students. (“This made me very popular,” she said with a laugh.) Tim Burch, who at age 15 had a summer job frying donuts all day every day at the bakery, used to eat 6 at a sitting and now, several decades later, will drive 32 miles roundtrip for a meltaway, a rich but delicate pastry that literally melts in your mouth.

The King Donut Cart in warmer days

It’s not just the novelty of a horse-drawn cart or the small-town bonhomie of customers chatting as they wait. It’s the freshness, quality and lusciousness of the goods. Holly, an honors student in geology and environmental studies, worked at restaurants beginning at age 14 and found her calling as pastry chef in her early twenties, experimenting with flavors, textures, techniques and aesthetics. She also studied the logistics and management side of the business, a necessity for a small operation with tight margins. Marketing has never been an issue, since word of mouth has been so fierce that demand, especially on Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, outstrips supply. 

Covid has changed the way the Kings do business, not just by mandating the 6-ft. space between customers in line but encouraging online orders through their Facebook page. Order early, and don’t be late for pickup. Your sugar coma awaits.

Editors Note: As mentioned, demand frequently outpaces supply at the King Donut Cart, which is why the address is withheld in this story. Just a little digging on your part will uncover it, and the donuts will taste that much sweeter knowing you found them yourselves!

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The Weekender: March 19 - 21

Happy weekend and Happy Spring! We made it! I feel like we talk about the weather in The Weekender every week, but have you seen the forecast for this weekend?! Sunny skies with 50 and 60 degree temps sounds like a dream, and we can’t wait to soak it up. Here are a few things you may want to add to your agenda:

Winter Meltdown: The snow is melting and things are heating up at The Shirt Factory with their Winter Meltdown Spicy Food event this Saturday. Local vendors and food trucks will be showcasing their bold flavors, and it seems like a perfect way to spend a sunny spring day. Details here.

Rob and Deb’s Opening Day: Another perfect way to spend the first weekend of spring? Ice cream! Rob and Deb’s Frozen Dreams opens tomorrow (Friday) and we can’t wait to get in line for a taste of summer - details here!

Maple Weekend: ‘Tis the season! The sap is flowing and sweet treats abound at some of our favorite sugar shacks. We shared a list of four of our favorites to visit here, so if you’re looking to go for a ride this weekend, this might be your best bet! Find them here.

Howl Trivia Night: Not this weekend, but something you’ll want to plan ahead for - SUNY Adirondack is hosting their popular Howl Trivia Night (in a virtual format this year!) on Friday, March 26. Players can form teams of four-to-six to compete for great prizes while raising money for SUNY Adirondack student scholarships - get the details here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: March 12 - 14

Happy weekend! What is that we see outside on the ground? Grass?!? Hope you’ve soaked up the sunshine and warm weather this week (and hope it sticks around for the weekend, too!). Speaking of the weekend, here’s what’s doing:

A Taste of Spring: Martha’s opens this weekend, which is always the happiest reminder that spring is on the way! A dish of vanilla with rainbow sprinkles is most certainly in my future. Grab the details here!

St. Patrick’s Day Sweets: If you’re a fan of The Muffin Top Baker’s cookies, you’re in luck (the luck of the Irish, perhaps?!) - she’ll be having a pop up this Saturday and again on Tuesday featuring plenty of festive St. Patrick’s Day options - follow along with her on Facebook here for all the details!

Brunch at Raul’s: We did a double take when we saw a Sunday brunch post on Raul’s Instagram feed - they’re talking cured salmon tacos, chorizo-egg-hash burritos and mimosas - sign us up! Details here.

Curbside at Farmers Market: If you’ve got a hankering for some Farmers Market favorites but haven’t wanted to venture out, good news - you can now shop the Glens Falls Farmers Market online and arrange for curbside pick up! Place your order here, or you can always shop in person at The Cool Insuring Arena on Saturdays from 9am - noon.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

Seven Antique Shops to Visit this Season

It’s the perfect time of year for one of our favorite weekend activities - antiquing! We shared a version of this roundup a few years ago over on Bri’s blog (along with a video - watch it here , but we wanted to pass along an updated version with some new favorites here. Happy treasure hunting! 

Fort Ann Antiques | Whitehall, NY 

We’re sure you’ve driven by here a time or two on your way into Vermont on Route 4. Take it from us - it’s worth a stop! We’ve left here with everything from a vintage oil painting, to a blue and white chinoiserie vase, to an old soda crate. It seems like there’s always something new each time we stop, which of course is the beauty of a good antique shop - you never know what will be around the next corner!

The Village Booksmith | Hudson Falls, NY

Another gem on Route 4 - this time in Hudson Falls - we always enjoy a tour through The Village Booksmith. We tend to look to old books for inspiration, and there are shelves upon shelves to flip through here. While I love a great read, I’m also guilty of picking up beautiful old books to use as decor around the house - who can resist adding a title like “Adventures to Come” on their bookshelf? It’s a great bit of inspiration for the day to day. 

Cambridge Antiques Center | Cambridge, NY

With a little bit of everything spanning two floors, you could easily spend the afternoon here. Some of our favorites are always waiting on the landing at the top of the stairs - vintage signage, rustic wooden trunks, and a bit of blue-and-white chinoiserie. Lots of vendors, so there’s always a great mix of formal, country / rustic, and lots of great lighting and rugs, too. 

Jack’s Out Back | Cambridge, NY 

Right next door to Cambridge Antiques, don’t miss popping into Jack’s. If you like vintage signage, this is your place - there’s an almost dizzying variety lining the walls, and you’ll likely want to bring them all home! 

Blacksmith Antiques | Cambridge, NY 

So many treasures to be found here - vintage art and photographs, tin containers and old bottles (perfectly and precariously stacked!). Wondering if the floor boards are going to collapse underneath you is just another exciting part of the experience! ;) 

Black Bass Antiques | Bolton Landing

Filled with local and Adirondack nostalgia - from vintage postcards to old photos, signage, and pennants, we’ll definitely be coming here to decorate our lakeside cabin that only exists in our dreams ;)

Antiques Market Place | Lake George

Twenty quality dealers offering an ever-changing inventory of unique and interesting antiques, vintage and collectibles. With a fantastic mix including Adirondack, Americana, Books, Country, Ephemera, Fishing, Folk Art, and more - there’s definitely something for everyone!

Would love to hear your favorite spots in the comments below!

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My Glens Falls: Nicholas Chowske

We’re chatting with Nicholas Chowske this week! You may recognize him as a contributor to GFL (check out his story on Halfway Brook Trail here!), and we were thrilled to get to know him a bit better. He shares the literal wrong turn that led him to his work in writing and photojournalism, his favorite hidden gem in the city, and lots more…

Tell us about yourself!

Hello! My name is Nicholas Chowske, and I live in Queensbury, with my wife, Andrea, our two boys, Levi (8) and Luke (5), our two cats, Lucy and Terra.

You may recognize me from the Quaker Road Hannaford deli, where I’ve worked nights for nearly six years now, or most recently as a contributing writer to Glens Falls Living, but my favorite job has been stay-at-home-dad, which I’ve been loving for the past 8 years. 

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

My wife and I are both from the area - I grew up in South Glens Falls, and graduated from South High in 2001, and Andrea from Queensbury High School in 2002. College and careers moved us all across the state, but it was family that brought us back home. 

I first went to SUNY Brockport, where I earned a degree in Criminal Justice and Environmental Science, which I intended to turn into a career as a forest ranger. I met Andrea the summer before my senior year, while we were both working at the Price Chopper on Glen Street, and we moved to Plattsburgh together after I graduated in 2005, where she was still attending school. In Plattsburgh, I had the opportunity to take a forest ranger civil service exam, but unfortunately, I got lost on the way to the test (who knew there was a Saranac High School and a Saranac Lake High School?). I enrolled at SUNY Plattsburgh to take some photography and writing classes in the meantime, while I waited for another civil service exam, and my wife finished her degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. I ended up falling in love with my courses, and graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a degree in Photojournalism in 2010. 

After a brief stint working as a photographer and communications writer for Swarovski Crystal’s lighting factory in Plattsburgh, my wife was offered a job as a dietitian at Southampton Hospital, in 2012, so it was off to Long Island. Shortly after arriving, I landed a job as a society photographer, features writer and wine reviewer at a weekly news magazine called “Dan’s Papers”, which covers the Hamptons, Shelter Island, and Long Island’s North Fork. 

Our first son, Levi, was born on the island in 2013. As much as we loved the work we were doing, we had no family in the area, our thoughts began to turn toward home. As luck would have it, an opening for a dietitian came up at Glens Falls Hospital, shortly after our son’s first birthday, and we were back home by fall of 2014. 

In 2015, we bought our house, a 3-bedroom ranch built in 1957, and we absolutely adore it. All through the purchase process, I had a feeling that as soon as we signed the papers, something better would turn up, but here we are six years later, and it’s still the perfect fit for us. We live in a quiet, friendly neighborhood, that’s within walking distance of Cole’s Woods, Crandall Park and Kensington Road School, where our oldest is in 2nd grade. Since we’ve moved in, a number of other young families, with children close in age to ours, have joined the neighborhood, and I can tell they’ll likely be lifelong friends. 

Some Glens Falls Favorites

The best thing about Glens Falls, for me, is all of the wonderful natural amenities the area has to offer. I grew up hiking and mountain biking all over the area, and Glens Falls is in close proximity to so many amazing mountains, lakes and rivers. Being close to nature is important for us, and where we are now, we’re never more than a short walk, ride or drive from an amazing outdoor adventure. 

Aside from the area’s natural beauty, my favorite place in the city is easily Crandall Public Library. Before the pandemic, my family and I made trips to the library nearly every week to stock up on books, or to enjoy their amazing events and programs. The staff there has always been so knowledgeable and friendly, and their children’s programs are absolutely wonderful! I fondly remember taking both of my boys to the baby lap time and toddler story times and playgroups each week for stories, songs and games - we absolutely loved them!

And, even though the pandemic has closed the library’s doors, they’ve done a fantastic job of accommodating the community’s needs with their curbside-pickup service and pop-in library days. Thanks to their hard work, the perfect book is never more than a few clicks away!

This brings me to my favorite Glens Falls “hidden gem” - the library’s quarterly books sale. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve walked into the sale with a couple of dollars in my pocket, and walked out with more books than I could read in a lifetime!

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

I love Glens Falls in early summer, when everything is lush, green and full of potential. Everyone is out and about, exploring the city or working in their yards and gardens. My ideal “Glens Falls Day” would begin by hitting up the Farmer’s Market first thing in the morning for some fresh fruits and vegetables, followed by a trip to the library. Then, a cup of coffee at Spot or Spektor- or even better, brunch at the Silo - followed by an afternoon of hiking and swimming at the lake. Then it’s home to clean up, and dinner at Siam Thai - the Drunken Noodles for me, and Sushi for my wife - and drinks at Downtown Social, followed by a stroll around downtown or a show at the Park Theater.

On the Past

My favorite memory of Glens Falls, since moving back home, would have to be our 10th wedding anniversary back in 2018. It was early June, and our parents had taken the kids overnight, so we could have our first “real date” in a long time. Having heard such rave reviews, we decided on Morgan & Co. for our celebratory dinner. The weather was perfect, and we sat on the porch, where I enjoyed what was probably the best steak dinner of my life. After we ate, we decided it was much too nice of a night to turn in early, so we drove home, got on our bikes and rode back downtown to check out the nightlife. We found our way to The Bourbon Room, where I tried one of their signature cocktails, the “Rosemary’s Baby.” It was a great night, and the perfect way to cap off our first 10 years of marriage.

 On the Future

Glens Falls is conveniently situated between two huge tourist destinations - Lake George to the north, and Saratoga Springs to the south. I’ve always felt that the city could capitalize on this by becoming a hub for dining and lodging in the area. Glens Falls could thrive as the place people come to stay and relax or enjoy a great meal between adventures in the outlying areas. The city could bring everything from fine dining, luxury accommodations and day spas, down to tapas bars, food trucks and art galleries, to attract people to this beautiful area. 

The Weekender: March 5 - 7

Happy weekend! There’s sunshine in the forecast, the days seem a little longer, and we’ve got just a touch of spring in our step heading into the weekend. Here’s what looks good:

Craft on 9: They’re back! So excited to see Craft on 9 back open as of today and it looks like they’re offering indoor dining and take-out. So excited to have another of our favorites back in rotation! Details here.

Indoor Dining at Doc’s: Speaking of favorites, we’ve loved getting Doc’s to go the last couple of months, and they’ve just re-opened for indoor dining this week too (and with a fabulous new spring menu, no less - check it out here!).

Adirondack Blooms: Can’t wait to start filling the house with spring and summer blooms, and we were psyched to stumble across a new to us flower farm on Instagram - @adirondackblooms! The owner, Chelsea, will be doing flower subscriptions this summer with pickup at WorkSmart downtown, and she’s offering 15% off subscriptions through March 9 with code WORKSMART. Details here!

Arthur’s Market Grand Opening: We’ve been following along with Arthur’s Market in the Historic Stockade District of Schenectady on Instagram for quite some time now as they’ve restored a neighborhood café built in 1795 (!!). Their grand opening is this weekend, and we’re excited to take a mini road trip to check them out sometime soon. Check them out here (and if you decide to go, they’re asking everyone to reserve a shopping slot here to keep crowds to a minimum this first weekend.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

On the Trail: Halfway Brook

There’s no better way to explore the Glens Falls region’s natural beauty than by roaming its miles and miles of trails. Now, thanks largely to one man’s dedicated efforts, the Halfway Brook Trail has joined Queensbury’s expanding trail network, and is already drawing dozens of visitors a day.

Halfway Brook Trail • Photo: Nicholas Chowske

“I was shocked by the number of people using the trail, even in the winter for cross-country skiing and for snowshoeing,” said Queensbury Town Supervisor John Strough, who has been working to create a unified trail system through the region for more than a decade. “We’ve got our trail, and people are very happy with it.”

The new one mile path, which wanders through the Glens Falls watershed forest between Potter Road and Peggy Ann Road in the Town of Queensbury, is the second piece in a network Strough ultimately plans to unite with the Feeder Canal Trail, The Rush Pond Trails, and the mountain bike park at the Gurney Lane Recreation Area, as well as the Cole’s Woods trails and Warren County Bikeway.

“We want to interconnect all of these, not only as an alternative transportation and recreation facility, but also as a way for people to get from point A to point B without using a car, and getting exercise in the meantime,” he said.

The trails have only just opened, and are already drawing a lot of visitors. “There’s always people out here,” said Donna Boss, who walks her black lab, Layla, on the trails. “It’s very rare that you don’t see one or two cars in that parking lot, and frequently, I’ll see five to seven, so it’s very popular.” Boss said she rarely used the trails before, and would often drive to Rush Pond or Crandall Park to walk her dog. “It was difficult because it really wasn’t groomed, and it was very overgrown, and I have a tick phobia, so I didn’t often come here,” she said. Now, her and her husband walk their dog here every day. “The dog is walked out here at least once a day, if not twice, and that’s every day, seven days a week. She loves it.”

Donna Boss and her lab, Layla • Photo: Nicholas Chowske

Having these trails not only gives residents a fun and healthy way to travel, they are also good for the land itself, especially for the Glens Falls watershed, which is where the city sources its water. “I followed pre-existing trails so that it would not disturb the flora very much,” Strough said. “We’ve designed the trail so that it actually does improvements to the watershed.” Stough, a stormwater inspector by trade, did much of the trailwork himself and made sure the new trails would have a positive environmental impact. “I lay it out to go around trees,” he said. “The trail is much nicer if it weaves and it wanders; it’s good that you go around the bigger trees, so that you don’t have to cut them down.”

While Strough has been the driving force behind this project, he hasn’t done it alone, and he made sure he recognized his supporters. “I have a huge ‘Thank You’ sign at either end of the trails, if you want to see who was involved in helping me out,” he said. “ It really was a community effort.”

In addition to the trails themselves, Strough and his volunteers also put in sediment and erosion controls, a new footbridge to cross the brook, as well as parking areas and gates that will prevent motorized vehicles from driving through the woods. “We took out five truckloads of furniture and garbage that people were putting into the watershed because they could drive in, dump in the watershed, and then drive out anonymously,” he said.

View from the bridge on the Halfway Brook Trail • Photo: Nicholas Chowske

The next steps will be to install a pedestrian crossing at Aviation Road to connect to the Rush Pond Trails, and to secure a right-of-way along National Grid’s transmission lines, which will take the route south to Luzerne Road, where it will connect to the Feeder Canal Trail. Strough said the Town is currently in negotiations with National Grid, and he expects that project will be done within the next two years.

“I think we’ve got a great amenity that we’re offering the public, and it will make Queensbury a destination point for people,” Strough said. “If they’re enjoying it, that’s the important part; and if they’re getting exercise and are healthier because of it, that’s good, too.”

For more information on the Halfway Brook Trail, including a trail map, click here.

Back in the Day: Birdsall Mansion

I have a running joke whenever my wife points out an unexplained noise around the house.

”It must be the ghost of Dr. Birdsall. He followed us from Glens Falls to Ticonderoga,” I quip.

For more than a decade before moving north in 2018, we rented an apartment in the Victorian structure at the corner of Ridge and William streets in Glens Falls that once was the single-family home of Dr. Stephen Birdsall, who, with his son, also a physician, brought the first X-ray machine to Glens Falls in 1904.

I used to tell people in Glens Falls, “I have one-ninth of a mansion, and if I could afford the property taxes, I would take over the other eight-ninths.”

If Dr. Birdsall’s ghost does inhabit the structure, or any other location, I am certain it is a kind spirit, as Birdsall, a Quaker who played golf, was president of the Glens Falls Y.M.C.A. and a founding trustee of Glens Falls Home for Aged Women.

Early 20th century photo of the Birdsall mansion at corner of Ridge and William streets in Glens Falls. From "Glens Falls: The Empire City," courtesy The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library.

The Queen Anne-style structure, constructed in 1885 and 1886, and the framework of the historic barn behind it, still stands.

Stone mason Maurice Nason and his crew completed the lower portion of the house on July 29, 1885.

Carpenter William Sheehan of Albany, “a young man scarcely twenty-five years of age, who, notwithstanding his youth, is reported to be a thoroughly competent mechanic,” was preparing to begin the next phase of construction.

The test of time verifies the confidence in his skills.

By today’s standards, it has ample lawns surrounding it, but far less than the three acres of lawn and gardens of the late 19th century.

Birdsall paid $5,500 – the equivalent of $148,320 in 2020 dollars -- to buy the plot, that stretched over to Grand Street, from John Herlihy.

The windmill that once supplied water for drinking, bathing, cleaning, fire protection and watering the garden and animals is long gone.

Birdsall, the son-in-law of Daniel S. Haviland, a Queensbury farmer who was influential in politics, moved with his family to Glens Falls from Brooklyn, where the physician had a “large and lucrative” gynecology specialty practice,” in March 1885 because the physician, himself was in poor health.

“The doctor proposes to take a rest for one year, during which time he will erect his residence on Ridge Street,” The Morning Star reported.

Courtesy of The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library

In 1888, Dr. Birdsall built a hotel at Glen Lake, where many of his former Brooklyn patients came to vacation.

Early 20th century Post-Star history writer Howard Mason divided Glens Falls physicians into two categories: those who drove their own horses and those who had a driver.

Birdsall was of the latter category – having a driver who chauffeured him around Glens Falls in a Victorian carriage, with the top down on days the weather was favorable.

Birdsall apparently had farm animals on his property, because in 1886 the doctor won second place at the Warren County Fair for a six-month-old sow.

Birdsall owned a St. Bernard dog, which, in 1894, wandered down Ridge Street and “quickly took possession” of a ham that was part of a merchandise display in front of the I. N. Scott & Sons grocery store.

“Mr. Scott started in pursuit, but was unable to overtake the thief. He followed the dog, however, to Dr. Birdsall’s residence, and there found the animal enjoying a hearty meal, a good portion of the ham having already been devoured,” The Morning Star reported. “A number who witnessed the incident were heartily amused.”

No doubt, Dr. Birdsall paid for the ham.

To get an idea of the expanse of the mansion when it was a single-family home, nearly 200 people attended the wedding of Birdsall’s daughter in the parlor and dining room.

“The stately mansion of Dr. and Mrs. Stephen T. Birdsall was transformed into a bower of floral beauty last evening, when their daughter, Miss Lillian Eloise Birdsall and Charles Blanchard Price, of Newark, N.J., were married amid a proliferation of Easter lilies, azaleas, roses and palms,” The Morning Star reported on April 23, 1908. “It was one of the prettiest weddings seen in Glens Falls in many a day and the most brilliant society event of the season.”

Phil Rose Apartments owned the mansion for many years, dating back to around World War II until a few years ago.

Grand Ridge Apartments owns it now.

The Birdsall Mansion today

Sources: The Morning Star Jan. 20, May 8, July 30, 1885; March 15, 1894; Sept. 4, 1886; April 23, 1908; The Post-Star, April 24, 1939; Glens Falls Times, July 5, 1964; “Hospital by the Falls,” Joseph Cutshall King, 1987, Glens Falls Hospital; “Backward Glances,” Howard Mason, 2014, Warren County Historical Society; Glens Falls City Historian Wayne Wright

The Weekender: February 26 - 28

Happy weekend! The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and we’re gearing up to flip the calendar to March on Monday. We’re so ready for spring, outdoor gatherings, and .. okay, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Here’s what’s doing this weekend:

Burger Night: Have you guys tried Backdoor Burger yet? Tom has been talking about getting a burger for weeks, and I just saw that mac and cheese is now on the menu, so we may just give it a try! If you’re up for a burger night too, here are their details.

Ice Cream for a Good Cause: You never need to twist our arms when ice cream is involved, but when we saw that Southy’s Soft Serve in SGF is opening up this weekend to raise money for the South High Marathon Dance (20% of all sales will be donated!), we were 100% on board. Vanilla with rainbow sprinkles, please! Details here.

Maple Tour: Maple season is upon us! We just stumbled upon this self drive maple tour put together by Taste NY and we’re already dreaming about maple candy and maple caramel corn - details here!

Bear’s Cup on Rachael Ray: Did you catch the owners of Bear’s Cup Bolton on Rachael Ray this past week? We’ve been fans even before they were famous 😉 (see our story on them here!), but if you’d like to sample some of their bagel and pastry goodness, pop in this weekend or order for Sunday delivery, since this is their last weekend open before they close for the month of March. Details here.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

The Weekender: February 12 - 14

Happy weekend and Happy Valentine’s Day! We’re mulling over our date night take-out options and thinking it might just be wise to celebrate with dinner to go all three nights this weekend…it’s Covid times - why not?! Here’s a few things that caught our eye:

Valentine’s Day, To-Go: So many great options to choose from this weekend, including a fabulous Valentine’s Week menu from Doc’s (sign us up for the wild mushroom ravioli!), amazing choices on the Date Night menu at Morgan and Co. (hello surf and turf!), a superb tasting menu at Radici, Sunday brunch (!!) at farmacy, and so much more.

Ice Sculptures at The Hyde: While The Hyde is closed to indoor guests, we were excited to see an outdoor exhibition on the calendar! A Winter of Hope ice sculpture exhibition starts tomorrow (February 12), located on The Hyde's front lawn. The art will be accessible day and night - grab the details here!

Winterfest: Another pandemic pivot, Winterfest is taking the place of the Winter Carnival in Lake George this year! With a lakeside ice skating rink, guided hikes, snowshoeing, horse drawn carriage rides, and hot chocolate stations, there’s a little something for everyone. Check out the details here!

Wild Lights: Need a change of scenery? We hear ya. We stumbled across the Wild Lights event at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, and strolling the illuminated path looks like a pretty magical way to spend an evening! It’s included in a daytime admission ticket too, so you could always make a day of it - details here.

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

My Glens Falls: Avery Babson

This week, we caught up with Avery Babson and her sweet family! She shares what brought her back to the city after college, reminisces about her favorite downtown memories from her childhood, and fills us in on the exciting adventure her family is about to embark on (spoiler alert: it involves an 1890 fixer upper!).

Tell us about yourself!

¡Hola! I’m Avery Babson, a Glens Falls Middle School Spanish teacher, drama club director, The Resolutions singer, Glens Falls Community Theatre actor/director,  and Feeder Canal Trail lover. I live in Glens Falls with the most amazing husband, Steve Babson--who unsolicitedly packs my school lunches each day--and our two crazy beautiful kids. Trey, our creative and inquisitive first grader, is an aspiring stop motion lego animator, scientist, comedian, haunted house director, illustrator, and an avid Mo Willems reader. Our pre-schooler and beacon of light, Eve, sings from the moment she wakes until the moment she falls asleep. We are proud. 

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

I grew up on a dead end street across from Crandall Park. It was there that I put on my first pair of skates (double blades!) and dove after fly balls in the field with my dad. As the years went by, our house turned out to be a very convenient location for a quick trip to the rec center for hockey practice. After graduating from GFHS in 2001, I retired my hockey skates and field hockey stick, packed up my bags, and flew to Bolivia where I lived as a Rotary exchange student for a year. From there, I attended ACC, SUNY Albany and then moved to New York City to study acting and musical theatre.

Through all my adventures, I always knew that I wanted to settle in Glens Falls. When the Wood Theater began to boom and more and more restaurants, breweries and cafés popped up, it became apparent that it was time to move back (not to mention, student loans and NYC apartment prices do not mix). The universe picked the right time.  Shortly after I returned, I met my husband at a mutual friend’s downtown apartment.  Three years later (and after completing my MA in Teaching from SUNY Plattsburgh), we shared our vows at the Charles R. Wood Theater in front of an audience filled with our closest friends and family. It was the perfect venue for two Glens Falls natives--one a singer, the other a percussionist--to start their journey as husband and wife. 

This past July, we sold our Glens Falls starter home in a day (thank you, Alexis Feldbusch)! On the first day back to school, we frantically threw the last of our belongings into boxes and said goodbye to the walls that held the memories of Trey and Eve’s first steps. Being a seller’s market, the inventory was low, so we have been living in an adorable Airbnb owned by new friends (big shout-out to Ryan and Claudia Braymer!). We call the Airbnb our “adventure house” because, well, this process has certainly been an adventure! Nevertheless, our time at the adventure house will soon come to a close because a new adventure awaits in our new Glens Falls home! We are slated to close any day now and already have a team lined up to help tackle our adorable 1890’s fixer-upper. Between the massive yard filled with mature berry bushes, and the location of being conveniently close to downtown, the Feeder Canal (my absolute favorite running spot), Haviland’s Cove, and the kids’ elementary school, I think we may have found our forever home. Stay tuned! 

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

Though I don’t know if we’ve ever squeezed all of the following in one day, we may have come close. So, here goes… 

My perfect day in Glens Falls during the summer months starts with a morning run on the Feeder Canal Trail. The sound of the waterfall on the Hudson to my right as the morning sun beams on the misty canal to my left reminds me just how lucky we are to live where we do every single time.  

Next, a walk downtown with the kids to pick up lunch and a latte at Spot Coffee would be a must. We like to take our lunch to City Park, play tag, and dance in the gazebo.  Then, we walk over to visit Steve at his Edward Jones office located in the historic Smith Flatts building on the corner of Bay and Washington.

After lunch, the kids and I either spend an afternoon at Crandall Library, The GO World Awareness Children’s Museum, or swimming at my grandmother’s pool with Grandpa Bobby (my dad).

Once Steve is through with work, the chef is in the house! Steve loves cooking for his family. It is one of his favorite things….and we love his cooking. Did I say I'm a lucky wife? But, if we have a baby sitter, a date night sushi dinner at Mikado would be our go-to place, followed by a beverage at Craft on 9.  Or if we time it right, a Lake Theatre show would be the most ideal! 

On the Past

This is tough. There are so many memories to count! Having lived here most of my life, I think some of the simpler memories from early childhood stick out the most…like riding my bike to Cooney's Candy Store located on Montcalm Street with my cousin, Nathaniel Brochu. We thought we were so cool buying our own penny candy and snaps at 8 years old.

I fondly remember the treat of a late summer afternoon with my father and brother, Bo Clark, at the original New Way Lunch on South Street. Even as a young girl, I acknowledged just how special the place was with its chrome-top booths and ripped vinyl seats covered in duct tape. Two dirt dogs with the works, key lime pie and a cola was our staple order….and we always stayed until my father was out of change for the jukebox.

Most summer evenings were spent sitting with my grandparents on their front porch on South Street. My grandfather, Bob Clark Sr., was an English teacher and councilman who seemingly knew everyone in the community (or perhaps everyone knew him). If people weren’t stopping to talk as they walked by, they slowed their cars down to wave to my grandfather as they drove by.

On the Future

If I could wave a magic wand and bring something to the city, it would be…. 

A downtown playground - there were so many times (pre-Covid) that I brought the kids to the library or museum and wished for a downtown playground so they could quickly burn off energy before returning home for an afternoon nap. Oh, how I miss naps!

I would love to see some sort of extension of Exchange Street- like a GF version of Church Street in Burlington!

My kids would probably be too old if this ever played out, but a splash park would be wonderful for little ones in our community (akin to Gavin Splash Park in Wilton).

With or without a magic wand, there are so many good things happening in our community. I am hopeful that when Covid bites the dust, it will continue to flourish and grow. I just love our little city and all the stories its streets can tell.

See more from our My Glens Falls series here!

The Weekender: February 5 - 7

Happy weekend, and Happy February! What’s on the agenda? With temps above 30º this weekend, it’s going to feel like a heatwave, and we’re planning to soak it up. A little snowshoeing perhaps? Lawn chairs in the snow for happy hour? Why not?! Here’s what else is on our radar:

Jazz Night: It’s back at The Q! Spread out in their spacious lobby and listen to the sounds of the Ray Alexander Jazz Trio while you enjoy a cold beverage and some of their delicious apps - social distancing at its finest. Details here.

Take-Out Date Night: Did you catch our First Look at downtown’s newest restaurant - Alif Café?! The menu looks amazing and we can’t wait to try it out this weekend - and we might just need to grab the cookie butter rolled ice cream for dessert. Catch the story and get their details here!

Valentine’s Day Prep: Yes, it’s 10 days away, but you’re going to want to fight your inner procrastinator to snag some of these gifts, since their order deadlines are soon - check out Alchemy Bagel for their amazing macarons, Gourmet Cafe for their truffles and chocolate covered strawberries, Floral Divine for beautiful bouquets, Abby’s Cookie Jar for their cookie DIY kits…we could go on!

Speaking of Valentine’s Day…: The Shirt Factory is hosting a Valentine’s Day One Stop Shop this weekend, with plenty of unique gift ideas from local makers - get the details here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

10 Valentine's Day Books Your Kids Will Love

As a mama of two and a teacher, it probably goes without saying that I love a good book. The chilly temps have meant a lot of time spent indoors reading all of our favorites. Luckily the season of love is upon us, which means our Valentine’s Day books have made their way into our little book nook! I’m sharing all of our favorites below - here’s hoping you and your family find a new book to love!

L is for Love: A Heartfelt Alphabet - A sweet and simple alphabet of love.

Hug Machine – Because everyone deserves a good hug!

Love Monster – The story of how love can find you (even if you’re not cute and fluffy) when you least expect it!

Love Is – A heartwarming story about what it means to care for others.

The Love Letter – One little love letter starts a chain reaction of kindness.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch – I read this classic to my 2nd graders on Valentine’s Day every year.

Love is a Truck – For the little lover of cars, trucks, and all things that go!

A Book of Love – This charming little story shares all the big and small ways that we can show our love.

Love is my Favorite Thing – Much like a lot of the dogs I know, the pup in this story can’t hide her enthusiasm for love!

Mirabel's Missing Valentines – This shy little mouse works up the courage to celebrate Valentine’s Day after all!

Editors note: In the spirit of supporting local booksellers, we’re linking to Bookshop.org where available, a bookseller that donates a portion of profits to local independent bookstores. GFL is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a small commission at no cost to you if you click through and make a purchase, helping to support GFL, too!

First Look: Alif Café

Downtown Glens Falls has a unique new lunch and dinner spot!

Alif Café, at 193 Glen Street in the former Samantha’s Cafe space, features Pakistani and South Asian street food, chais and coffees, the energetic 24-year-old owner Muhammad Saud told Glens Falls Living.

His parents own the Tandoori Grill and the original Alif Café in Lake George Village, but Mr. Saud said “Our cuisine has been missing in Glens Falls for some time.”

“I was looking to open a new restaurant, and I looked everywhere from New York City to Houston, but I decided it was time Glens Falls got some mideastern cuisine!” he said. “We love Glens Falls! My family has been part of this community for nine years. We feel like we know exactly what Glens Falls needs.”

Alif Café opened on January 15. A proper “grand opening” is planned when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, Mr. Saud said.

Muhammad Saud at Alif Café

He describes South Asian food as diverse, flavorful and aromatic.

“We’re known for our diversity and our love for street food,” he said. “It’s not overpowering, but more of a blend of spices.”

Karahi chicken bowls, served with basmati rice, bread and salad, “have been going out the door like crazy,” Mr. Saud said. “Everything is made here every day.”

Another favorite is the unique “Naanwich, our panini-style sandwich version of our dishes, modernized and westernized. We’re still figuring out what people want. We want to do Pakistani breakfasts. We’re killers for eggs sunny side up, and we make the best omelets. There’s so much flavor it’s crazy!”

Other entrees include veggie bowls, Pakistani fruit lassis, rolled ice cream and pakora fritters, and more.

Open every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (and now available on DoorDash), he said “last Friday we ran out of food! Business has been amazing. I’ve never experienced people being this generous. Everyone has been so welcoming.”

He said owners of other downtown restaurants like Gourmet Cafe, Farmacy, Mean Max, Radici and Mikado “have all been so supportive.”

Alif Café has a five-year lease with building owner Chad Nims, Mr. Saud said.

By the way, it’s not just Glens Falls that’s taking note of Mr. Saud’s innovative recipes - his TikTok food videos have gained him a following of over 20,000 and growing. “I’m looking forward to keeping it going,” he said.

Alif Café
193 Glen Street • Glens Falls
Website / Facebook / Instagram

My Glens Falls: Kate Arney

This week, we’re chatting with Kate Arney, who you might recognize as a teacher at Glens Falls High School! She shares the sweet story of how her family ended up in their (adorable!) Glens Falls home, the perfect way to start your Sunday morning (hint: it involves the most delicious pastries), and a recent Glens Falls memory that’s likely high on everyone’s list of favorites…

Tell us about yourself!

Hi, I’m Katie Arney! I am an English teacher at Glens Falls High School. I love working in the district where I live and my daughters attend Glens Falls as well - Abby (9) is in 3rd grade and Maggie (almost 7!) is in 1st grade. My husband, Joe, works for Canoe Island Lodge on Lake George where we met and is the reason we ended up here! In fact, we love GF so much that my parents ended up moving here and are the owners of The Bell House Inn!

On Life In and Around Glens Falls

Joe and I met while working summers during college at Canoe Island Lodge, on Lake George. While in graduate school, we lived in Lake George and were trying to decide what our next life step would be after graduation. I am from outside of Albany and Joe is from Long Island, so we both sort of had our hometowns in our minds when considering our next move. Serendipitously, I was assigned to student teach at Glens Falls Middle School and I immediately fell in love with the area. One Sunday, we explored the adorable neighborhoods and it clicked - we knew immediately we wanted to settle down in Glens Falls.

We started looking at houses in the Glens Falls area and purchased a split-level ranch on a beautiful street that needed some updating. We loved that house and brought both of our babies home to that house. I fondly look back on those pictures now and am so proud of the work we did to make it the perfect home for us at that time. We honestly never planned to leave there, but life works in strange ways.

In 2012, we sadly lost Joe’s mother to cancer, and a couple of years later, his father remarried and decided it was time to sell the house. Joe decided we needed to find room in our house for his mother’s baby grand piano as he has such fond memories with the piano and his mother. Joe started doodling ways to find space in our house for this piano - including taking down walls, or getting rid of our dining room table! One night, I suggested we buy his parents’ house since it’s just around the block from our current house and the piano fits perfectly in the living room. He immediately said no, I said okay, and went to sleep for the night. The next morning, I awoke to Joe desperately waiting for me to wake up - he had stayed up all night considering my suggestion and decided we should go for it!

Our home now is an L-shaped Cape Cod built in 1934 from plans originally in a Better Homes and Garden magazine. The kitchen is in the back of the house with lots of windows allowing gorgeous light to pour in. We spend so much of our time in that room - cooking, eating, crafting, reading, visiting with friends. We also have so much more room in our current home allowing us to host family at holidays, and lately, have space for my sister-in-law, Meg, to escape Washington, D.C. during the pandemic and stay with us! This is definitely our forever home!

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

Life in quarantine has brought a new perspective to everything, but we have found some things that put a smile on our faces, and they will continue to even after this pandemic.

Our perfect morning starts with bagels and pastries delivered from Bear’s Cup, Bolton. They deliver to our area on Sunday mornings. I’m not sure what I used to indulge in prior to meeting their famous bear claw, but I can assure you, it will change your world! Later in the day, we will enjoy one of the amazing winter activities we have at our finger-tips: sledding at Gurney Lane, skating at Crandall Park or skiing at West Mountain. Upon our return, we will warm up with a hot cocoa bomb from Abby’s Cookie Jar and a cookie. Finally, ordering in dinner from one of our spectacular downtown restaurants. Last time was from Radici: salad, short ribs and mashed potatoes, and caramel budino - yum! And we, of course, have Common Roots beer on hand to have in front of the fire after dinner. 

On the Past

One of my favorite memories was honestly not that long ago, but right now feels like an eternity due to the pandemic. In 2019, the Glens Falls Boys Basketball team made it not only to the State Championship, but the Federation Tournament here at the COOL Insuring arena. The local pride was palpable - being at games among a sea of red and black, the lines around the block waiting to get into the arena for games, the sound of the cheering crowds, it was such a unifying time for our city. On a more personal note, I was able to see my students’ dreams come true creating memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. As a family, we enjoyed going to basketball games and seeing the parade. As a teacher, I saw my students bonding, making posters, and planning trips to games together. Groups of teachers traveled together to games in various locations near and far. As a community member, I felt the excitement through the town with just one outcome in mind - GF wins! At the start of that season, I bought a red and black GF shirt from Hallwear with glitter-fabric on the arms. I wore that shirt to every game as well as to school every Friday. I became superstitious about the shirt and if they played back-to-back games, I had to do an emergency load of laundry! After the Federation tournament, I retired that shirt, but have it saved as a keepsake.  

On the Future

Glens Falls has so many amazing restaurants and coffee shops, and I’m excited to see more places offering brunch! One shop I miss often is Sterling & Co, so I would love to see a home goods shop back in Glens Falls! I would also love an app to alert the ice cream truck that we would like a drive-by! Lastly, I would love to see a community pool. Growing up, the town pool was the family place to be complete with a concession stand with the best chicken fingers!

See more from our My Glens Falls series here.

The Weekender: January 29 - 31

Happy winter weekend! The days are blending together and the temps are dipping even lower, so we’re excited to have a few things to look forward to this weekend - here they are!

Ice Lantern Contest: Light up Crandall Pond with an ice lantern! They are easy to make (check out this video!) and would be a fun project for kids to help with, too. Once you’re done, you’ll bring it to Crandall Pond and follow the contest directions here. So very Hometown USA. Details here!

Restaurant Bingo: The Glens Falls Collaborative put together a restaurant version of everyone’s favorite game, which of course involves patronizing our downtown restaurants with dine in, takeout, or gift cards (yes please!). Once you get five in a row, you have a chance to win! All the details are here - good luck!

Chowderfest: Another pandemic pivot - Chowderfest, a winter favorite in Saratoga, is dedicating one week to Chowderfest this year instead of the usual one day. They’re calling it The Chowder Tour, and you can grab pints and quarts of chowder to go from participating restaurants, or dine in and enjoy it with lunch or dinner. Details here!

Ice Bar Season: We’ve got Covid to thank for disrupting ice bar season this year, but we just saw that The Sagamore’s ice bar is open - for overnight guests only! If you’re up for a little staycation, it would be a perfect spot to get into the spirit of this icy season. Details here.

A friendly reminder, and we feel like it goes without saying at this point, but with the numbers the way they’ve been over the last few weeks, it bears repeating: if you’re heading out, please wear your masks and maintain your distance! Stay safe out there neighbors :)

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

Ten Books to Cozy Up With This Winter

‘Tis the season for cozying up with a good book, and since we’ve been reading more than ever this year (a silver lining of the pandemic, perhaps?), book recommendations are in high demand around here.

We recently caught up with our friends at the beloved Battenkill Books in Cambridge to find out what books we’re going to want to have stacked at the ready on our nightstands this season. Whether you prefer fiction or nonfiction, there’s a little something for everyone. 

Battenkill Books on a warmer day

A quick PSA, if we may: if you’re reading more this year like we are, don’t forget to support your local independent bookstores! Shops like Battenkill Books make it super easy with curbside pickup and shipping options, too. And, well, we’ve all seen You’ve Got Mail, right? ;)

Simply click each title to shop.  

FICTION

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell 

Hypnotic and wildly imaginative musing on tragic events in the life of Shakespeare, seen from various perspectives and with language that envelopes you in this world constructed by Maggie O’Farrell.

The House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O’Donnell

Deeply satisfying historical fiction mystery set in late 19th century London. A seamstress falls from her high window, a cryptic message stitched into her skin and a rash of missing girls…enter the perfect detective duo and a determined journalist to tell the story as it unfolds. You won’t be able to stop reading.

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Backman at his finest. A bungled bank robbery lands a group of eight strangers in a hostage situation at an apartment viewing…thus begins the strange circumstances in which Backman explores our deeper connections, our place in the world and our capacity for compassion.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

A mad pact made by a young woman, to live forever, and cursed to be forgotten by everyone she ever meets. The story begins in France 1714…300 years later, everything changes when someone remembers her name in a hidden bookstore.  

Transcendent Kingdom by YAA Gyasi

Gyasi follows up her bestselling Homegoing with this beautifully written exploration of family, suffering and the precarious security of faith and home. Gifty is a PhD neuroscience candidate studying suffering and addiction, whose Ghanaian family has been touched by great loss. Luminous and layered.  

The Searcher by Tana French

French is an artist of atmosphere, be drawn into the captivating world of her writing. A Chicago cop moves to a small Irish village where nothing much happens, but he finds himself drawn back into detecting when local buried darkness is unearthed.    

NONFICTION

Wintering by Katherine May

May draws from literature, nature and mythology to consider the ways we think about fallow times, seasons of dormancy and the restoration that is possible in these times. Inspiring and eye-opening.

The First Principles: What America’s Founders Learned from the Greeks and Romans and How that Shaped Our Country by Thomas E Ricks

An exploration of the classical educations of the first four American presidents and how these works shaped the political and philosophical landscape during the nation’s early years.

The Age of Wood by Roland Ennos

Fascinating look at the significance and the long history of our engagement and reliance on this fundamental material. A deep dive into the profound role wood and trees have played in shaping our society and our place in the world.

Ghostways: Two Journeys into Unquiet Places by Robert MacFarlane, Stanley Donwood and Dan Richards

“The Irish phrase Aiteanna Tanai-usually translated as ‘thin places’ or ‘places of shade’-refers to those landscapes in which the past is eerily restless, or the thresholds between realms are slender.” Thus begins Ghostways by Robert Macfarlane, Stanley Donwood and Dan Richards which takes Orford Ness and Holloway as their subjects. A fascinating blend of nature, history and the eerie echoes that resonate in certain places.

My Glens Falls: Cara Greenslade

We’re chatting with Cara Greenslade this week, who you may recognize as one of the owners of Sidekick Creative (remember our coloring pages last year? They were the masterminds who brought them to life!). Cara shares what brought her back to Glens Falls after college, the best spur of the moment real estate decision she made, sweet memories from her downtown wedding last summer, and more!

Tell us about yourself!

Hello! My name is Cara Greenslade. I am Business Director and part owner at Sidekick Creative, a local graphic design firm. I’m the only non-designer in our small team of four, but I love working in the creative space and working with so many other great businesses in the area and beyond. We work with a lot of destinations, events and non-profits on branding, layout (brochures, publications) and custom illustrations. Every day brings something different, we have the best team and clients, and it’s a pretty awesome feeling to actually enjoy going to into work everyday.

I live right in Glens Falls with my husband (we just got married six months ago so the word husband still sounds weird to me), Ethan, and our cat, Onyx. We both love it here and have no plans of ever leaving!

On Life In Glens Falls

I have lived in Glens Falls since I was 10. I left for college and came back to Glens Falls for what I thought was only going to be a temporary stay until I figured something else out. It was around this time that downtown Glens Falls was really coming alive again. I started to see Glens Falls not just as my childhood hometown, but as a great place to put down more roots and start a career. I think my main motive for leaving was living somewhere a little warmer, but every year I start to enjoy the four seasons a little more. And there’s nothing quite like heading downtown on the first warm spring day after a long winter and enjoying a drink outside at one of the restaurants.

A year or two after graduating, I ran into my old friend from high school and coworker from my lifeguarding days at Million Dollar Beach, and now over six years later we’re married, we both have careers we love here, and we really enjoy being within walking distance to both of our parents.

We own a multi-family home within a five minute walk of downtown. My parents and I bought it on whim around three years ago. I was renting an apartment with no immediate plans on buying a house (I had just started a business!) and we saw this house get listed at a great price. My mom and I decided to check it out and that same night we put an offer in. It was one of the craziest, but best spur of the moment decisions I’ve ever made. We live in one apartment and rent the two others and are lucky to have great tenants. The apartment we’ve been living in needed the most work and three years later we’re just putting on the final touches with A LOT of help from our parents. The house was really solidly built so the work we’ve been doing is just cosmetic for the most part, but we’ve got big plans for the other two apartments and outside for the future!

Some Glens Falls Favorites

I love the walkability, especially in the warmer months. We’re lucky to live in a part of town where we can walk to downtown in five minutes, to Crandall Park in ten and to work in 20 minutes (our studio is in The Shirt Factory). I also love the events - LARAC June Arts Fest, Taste of the North County, Fourth of July Fireworks and the Symphony in Crandall Park, and the Balloon Fest just to name a few.

I don’t think this is exactly a hidden gem, but if you don’t know about the Fenimore’s Happy Hour, you should! It’s a favorite of ours, especially on winter Fridays. Post Covid, I know it will be one of the first places we go. The staff is so friendly, the ambiance is cozy and laid back, and the food and drink are great! And there’s usually live piano or a jazz trio playing in the beautiful lobby.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

To be very specific, it would be a warm, sunny, summer Saturday. My husband and I would walk to the Farmers’ Market to stock up on fresh veggies and cheese, grab a latte at Spektor, and head to Rude Betty to grab a gift for a friend or family member. Before heading home we might enjoy our coffee in City Park. After that my mom and I might check out some garage sales and grab ice cream for lunch at Coopers Cave, Rob & Deb’s or Sprinkles. In the afternoon, Ethan and I would most likely be heading to one of our parents houses to hang out by the pool. We’d finish out the day by meeting friends for dinner and drinks at Raul’s or Mikado, or if we were doing a date night, heading to Farmacy or Radici.

On the Past

This is a not too distant memory, but this past June, in the midst of the pandemic, Ethan and I got married with just our immediate family in attendance. After a ceremony in my parents yard, we headed downtown for photos followed by a delicious dinner at Morgan & Co. It was a beautiful day and people were taking advantage of outdoor dining and just being outside walking around. As we walked around downtown getting photos, people were clapping, yelling congratulations and honking. We were so happy, and there was so much good energy in Glens Falls surrounding us. Once we got to Morgan & Co, our families surprised us by setting up our first dance on the front lawn (something we originally didn’t plan on doing) and inviting all of our local friends and family who weren’t able to attend (because of Covid) to watch — socially distant style. No one forgets their wedding day, but I know this memory will always be there to remind Ethan and I why we love where we live.

On the Future

Some things I’d love to see:

Restaurant - Mediterranean, healthy-ish.

Business - Ethan always talks about wanting an arcade style bar/restaurant in Glens Falls so throwing this in.

Public Space - I love Exchange Street and I think any way we can make it even better, expand it or create more spaces like this in Glens Falls would be awesome.

Store - Small grocery or bodega in Glens Falls with the basics and some easy to-go or take-and-bake style meals for easy dinners.

Crandall Park - I’m throwing this in just because I feel like the park has come alive in the last few years and they are doing so many things right. New courts, ice-skating, disc golf — all of it is so great!

The Weekender: January 22 - 24

Happy weekend! It feels juuust a touch colder this week and with that always comes the feeling that winter might never end, but we’re hoping to try to embrace it this weekend by getting outside - there’s sunshine in the forecast, after all!

Here’s what’s on our radar:

Dueling Cupcakes: Abby’s Cookie Jar just posted this photo of a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough cupcake vs. an Oreo cupcake and well, a taste test might just make a fun weekend activity! Follow along with them here.

Maple. Glazed. Donuts: Need we say more? Hicks Orchard brought back this fabulous twist to their standard cider donut and it’s the perfect, most over the top dessert (breakfast?) food you didn’t know you needed. Plus, a ride into Washington County is a great cure for winter cabin fever. Details here!

Drink Beer on the Internet: Not this weekend, but Common Roots has a few slots left for their virtual tasting on January 31 and you’ll probably want to snag one! A selection of their beers, paired with meat, cheese & chocolate from local purveyors and a little background on the beer via Zoom - grab your tasting kit here.

Up Yonda, Literally: Up Yonda Farm in Bolton Landing will be offering guided snowshoe hikes this Saturday with the added bonus of a little snowshoeing history lesson along the way. The perfect way to soak up the sunshine this weekend - details here!

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom